ORLANDO, Fla. – Around 3 p.m. on Monday, the Yankees received a resolution on one piece of uncertain business facing them in the long winter. The representative for outfielder Curtis Granderson contacted the club to inform them Granderson had declined the organization’s one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer. Both second baseman Robinson Cano and starter Hiroki Kuroda soon did the same.

“No surprises,” general manager Brian Cashman said on the first day of the GM Meetings here at the Grande Lakes Orlando resort. “When we made the qualifying offers, we did not expect anyone to accept.”

Yet the team harbored some worry Granderson would take the contract, which would hamstring their financial flexibility for 2014. They debated making him the offer up until close to last week’s deadline. Instead of coming back, he’ll pursue a multi-year deal from a list of suitors that includes the Mets. Meanwhile, the Yankees can re-allocate that cash for other items.

Cashman and his staff began meeting with player agents on Monday. Cashman declined to discuss those conversations, but the team’s primary targets are well-known: Catcher Brian McCann, outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and outfielder Carlos Beltran, among others. “Usually the players we like, a lot of other teams like, too,” he said.

The Yankees have four outfielders under contract for 2014. Brett Gardner figures to start in center, with Alfonso Soriano in left. The team hopes to upgrade from a right-field platoon of Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells.

“Do we have outfielders that we’re ready to start the season with? Yes,” Cashman said. “But if I can improve upon that? All the better.”

But they also hope to retain both Cano and Kuroda. Cashman does not expect either process to occur in expedient fashion. He predicted a drawn-out set of negotiations with Cano, who is reportedly seeking a 10-year, $300 million contract. The Yankees have said they will not meet that price. The search for common ground could take months.

“He’s earned the right to be a free agent,” Cashman said. “He’s a premier player. And given that status that he carries, those type of players dictate the dance steps. We’ll do the dance as long as we can . . . The music hasn’t even started yet.”

His early dialogue regarding Kuroda has been far from illuminating, he said. “I have no idea” if Kuroda wants to return, Cashman said. “My conversations with his agent, the only information I’ve gotten from that is he hasn’t made any decisions, what he wants to do as far as next year’s concerned.”

He added, “His dialogue is no different than it was to me last year at this time.”

Kuroda signed a one-year, $15 million contract for 2013. The team hopes to sign him at a slightly higher price, given his excellent performance for most of the past season. Cashman frets Kuroda could return to Japan and pitch for the Hiroshima Carp.

Granderson, 33 in 2014, is less of a priority for the Yankees. But he has drawn plenty of interest from other clubs. The Phillies, Cubs and White Sox have all reached out about him, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Granderson also appeals to the Mets, who are desperate to improve their offense and unwilling to splurge for $100 million players like Choo or Jacoby Ellsbury, general manager Sandy Alderson said on Monday.

The Mets understand Granderson has some flaws. He is strikeout-prone, and his tendency to swat fly-balls is worrisome inside Citi Field. But he also averaged 30 homers a season from 2011 to 2013 – and that’s after playing in only 61 games this season. Granderson is confident his free-agent profile was not too damaged by the pair of freak hand injuries that felled him in 2013.

His team in 2014 will most likely not be the Yankees. On Monday they received some answers. But many questions still remain.